The Absolute Best Adventure Destinations for Fall from The Absolute Best Adventure Destinations for Fall

The Absolute Best Adventure Destinations for Fall

The Absolute Best Adventure Destinations for Fall

Now that summer is coming to an end, it’s time to think about your fall travels. Fall brings about a variety of new and exciting opportunities. The scenery is beautiful; the leaves are changing colors, it’s the perfect time to go on a hike; it’s not too hot or too cold and there are tons of fall festivals to attend.

Enjoy a weeklong vacation or a simple weekend getaway. Whichever destination you choose, you will not be disappointed. Continue reading for the best adventure destinations for the fall.

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Milford Sound, NZ

Mildford Sound has a ton of fall inspirational activities to embark on. Visit Fiordland National Park to view incredible ice-carved fiords, lakes, rugged mountain tops and valleys. Go hiking on diverse terrain and explore their incredible wilderness. Other things to do in Milford Sound include kayaking and navigating your way through the beautiful water - make sure to look out for penguins, dolphins, whales and waterfalls.

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Hokkaido, Japan

The fall foliage in Hokkaido is absolutely incredible. There are tons of things to do and explore. Whale watching, rafting and canoeing are very popular, along with mountain climbing and hiking. Make sure you explore their spectacular volcanic lakes, one of which includes Lake Mashu, a crater lake that formed in the caldera of a potentially active volcano; located in Akan National Park. Fall is also the best time to see wildlife; over 200 species of birds have been found in the ecoregion and there are approximately 37 species of mammals in the ecoregion as well, according to worldwildlife.org.

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Estes Park, Colorado

Fall is the best time of the year to visit Rocky Mountain National Park; it has some of the most spectacular fall foliage. Clear skies, golden leaves, colorful wildflowers, spectacular mountain views and wildlife viewing, are just some of the many things you have to look forward to. Go hiking, biking, trail running – there are more than 350 miles of trails to choose from. If you are looking to stay overnight, you’re in luck; this park has hundreds of front-country and backcountry campsites to choose from.

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Albuquerque, New Mexico

Join other travelers from all over the world in Albuquerque for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta October 1-9. Watch as hundreds of hot air balloons take flight, experience a laser light show, fireworks and AIBF chainsaw carving demonstrations. Other things to do in Albuquerque include trail running, biking and hiking.

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Greenland

Autumn is the perfect time of the year to capture Greenland in all of its beauty. Explore and photograph incredible landscapes of pristine beauty, arctic wildlife and northern lights. Go on a Big Chill Adventures Fall tour and experience the beauty of Greenland during a time of the year when warm fall colors contrast with the cool blues of icebergs and glaciers. October is also one of the best times of the year to see the magnificent Northern Lights.

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Glacier National Park, Montana

[Related: Glacier National Park: 6 thing to do and see] Pristine forests, incredible mountains, stunning lakes and spectacular hikes are just some of the many things you have to look forward to when visiting Glacier National Park. Hike Grinnell Glacier for outstanding views of waterfalls and walk along the Cracker Lake trail for beautiful views of the lake and Apikuni Mountain. There is also no better time to fishfor large trout in Montana than in October. The Big Hole Lodge, one of the greatest fly fishing destinations in North America, is nestled in a spectacular wilderness setting in the Pioneer Mountains of Montana, with a beautiful trout stream at its doorstep. Take your journey on a 6-day Frontiers International Travel tour.

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Great Wall of China

[Related: The Most Spectacular Places to View the Sunrise in the World] The Great Wall, continuously built from the 3rd century BC to the 17th century AD, inherently preserves all the material and spiritual elements that carry its outstanding universal value, according to UINESCO. In autumn, beautiful colors adorn Beijing and the forests surrounding nearby sections of the Great Wall of China. Explore Beijing and its most popular attractions on a week-long Adventure Life tour. Visit the Forbidden City, Summer Palace, and Temple of Heaven. Hike along the renowned Great Wall, and try your hand at cooking Chinese cuisine.

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Located in North Carolina and Tennessee is the spectacular Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It’s well known for its active adventure opportunities, plant and animal life. Go cycling through the park for some incredible Fall Foliage. Some of the best roads for cycling include Cades Cove Loop Road and Lakeview Drive. Also make sure you go hiking; it’s accessible to visitors year-round. The most popular destination hikes in the park include Charlies Bunion, Alum Cave Bluffs, Andrews Bald, Rainbow Falls and Chimney Tops, according to NPS.

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Hiking the Canyons in Utah

Fall is the best time for a hike, it’s not too hot or too cold. Some of the most spectacular canyons to hike include the Wave, Antelope Canyon and Lake Powell. Make sure you bring your camera to view the stunning scenery from the Top Rock Arch, Melody Arch and the Grotto, while hiking the Wave. Explore the upper or lower Antelope Canyon and view the area where water runs through rocks and admire the beautiful rock arches at antelope canyon. Then hike Lake Powell and visit the location of one of the world’s scariest cliff dives.

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The Cayman Islands

[Related: The World’s Top Places for Animal Encounters] Experience snorkeling like you may never have before. Visit Stingray City – touch, feed and swim with stingrays. Also, explore the Stingray City Sandbar where you can swim freely with the stingrays in only three feet of water. Then make sure you attend the famous Pirates Week Cayman Islands’ National Festival in November; celebrate the pirate legends and cultural heritage of the Caribbean nation. Some of the festivities include a parade, food festival, landing pageant and underwater treasure hunt.

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Death Valley, California

Death Valley is known for its popular hiking and biking trails. Take on the Golden Canyon Trail; a two-mile round-trip hike through a colorful canyon, the Salt Creek Trail; a hike along a wooden boardwalk beside a small stream and the Badwater Salt Flats; a hike into beautiful landscape of white salt flats 282 feet below sea level (National Geographic). Also make sure to explore Death Valley National Park; tour Scotty’s Castle, go on a hike, take tons of photos and visit their unique museum.

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Devil’s Pool, Victoria Falls, Zambia

[Related: The Most Beautiful Waterfalls in the World] “Devils Pool” is a natural rock pool that it situated at the top of the Victoria Falls. From mid-August to mid-January you can walk along the lip of the falls, ZAMBIA says, it takes a rocky walk and swim in the Zambezi to get to the pool. But once you are there you can swim as close as possible to the edge without falling over.

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Banff National Park, Alberta

Banff National Park was Canada’s first national park. It has valleys, mountains, glaciers, meadows, rivers and forests. Go camping, hiking, and view incredible wildlife. It is home to one of The Planets Best Hotsprings. Also don’t forget to explore one of Canada’s most iconic lakes – Lake Louise. It provides some of the best otherworldly paddling opportunities in the country.

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Bahamas

Go swimming with pigs in the Bahamas! Or, stay at the Atlantis Resort for a once in a lifetime experience. Atlantis has one of the largest outdoor marine habitats in the world, with more than 50,000 aquatic animals and 250 species. Other animals to look out for in the Bahamas include flamingos, dolphins, iguanas, and turtles.

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Biking in Sonoma

When we think of Sonoma we usually think of their variety of wineries, gorgeous coastline and spectacular forests. However, fall is the best time of the year to go biking and sightseeing. This luxury bike tour company is offering a $250 discount per couple for its November 6 and 13, 2016 six-day bike tours through California Wine Country, stopping at area wineries in between vineyards, redwoods and rocky Sonoma Co. coastline. The trip includes all entrance and wine tasting fees, van support, meals at top-notch area restaurants, and nightly accommodations.

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Yellowstone National Park

Take a road trip from the Black Hills to Yellowstone National Park, this route takes you from the nation’s first national monument, Devils Tower, to the nation’s first national park, Yellowstone. Along the way, you’ll get up close and personal with many of Wyoming’s most distinctive geological and cultural features. Hike around Devils Tower, and then explore Buffalo on bike, boat or your own two feet. From there, visit Sheridan, the “King of Cowboy Towns,” and adventure through the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. Next in Lovell, visit the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range. Drive to Cody for some rock climbing, fly fishing, horseback riding and more. Then end in Yellowstone National Park for endless outdoor recreation opportunities and see famous sights like Old Faithful.

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Shikoku, Japan

Indulge in Shikoku’s beautiful weather, admire their abundance of fall colors and watch as the leaves change around you on the 11-day Hiker's Journey to Shikoku. This trip offers travelers the opportunity to follow pilgrimage trails that have been walked for 1,200 years, including the route of 88 temples.